Rear Wheel Bearing Help Thread

[stuartgallafant]

hey guys, just had to write a help thread for ant2, so i thought i might as well share it with everyone. hope this helps, sorry theres no pics!

you need...

17mm socket/wheel brace
7mm Allen socket (for brake caliper)
16mm socket (for brake caliper carrier)
6mm Allen drive socket
32mm socket (i think!)
centre punch
slide hammer
hammer (ball pein preferably)
sandpaper
wd40
array of chisels
patience and strength!!

-remove wheel, brake calliper and carrier, and brake disc. if you have drum brakes, remove the drum.
-remove dust cap, bend out folds on hub nut and remove the hub nut (32mm i think)
-undo the six 6mm allen bolts in the diff end of the driveshaft and lower the end out of the diff cup
-using a centre punch, punch the driveshaft out through the hub (dont let it drop on the floor!!)
-using the slide hammer, remove the hub. when the hub is removed, the outer bearing race casing will be left on the stub axle. we deal with this later
-remove the circlip
-use the slide hammer again to remove the inner race from the hub assembly
-thoroughly rub down the hub assembly case (where just removed the bearing from) using sandpaper/emery/wet 'n' dry cloth
-place the stub axle in a vice(gripping the hub part) and using your chisels, remove the outer bearing race from the stub axle
-soak the hub assembly case in WD40, and, using the old bearing as a press, knock the new bearing into the case with a hammer (try to put the new bearing in as equally/level as possible). this way, you put the old bearing on top of the new one, and hammer the old one to shit whilst not damaging your new one!
-install circlip
-once the bearing is in, refit the driveshaft
-slide the stub axle over the driveshaft and wind the hub nut onto the drive shaft to pull the stub axle back into the bearing race
seure hub nut by folding over tabs into grooves
-install dust cap
-refit brake assembly and wheel
-road test

if you are doing the nearside wheel bearing, the exhaust rear section must also be dropped/removed

good luck guys! feel free to contact me if you get stuck! also, feel free to add any comments!

[Gwynleym10]

How long does it take? Is it really as hard as everyone says?

Good write up by the way!

[stuartgallafant]

cheers fella!

takes about 1+1/2 hours, but i was at work, on a ramp, with all tools at my disposal. i wouldnt be scared to do one on my driveway, and i reckon it would take me 2+ hours to do

[Jos]

Shouldn't really hammer on barings at all, it shortens the life of them, press it if at all possible. I take mine to a little 1man garage bloke and he presses them in and out for £5.

[stuartgallafant]

we use a bearing pull at work, similar action to a press, but you're not gonna have one of them in your toolbox are you?! its just guide

[Martinaston]

You could just bolt the hub back onto the wheel if you don't have a vice when you want to remove the outer race.
and you make the refit sound easy when it comes to the driveshaft, i had a nightmare when i fitted new shafts, and couldn't even get them in an inch let alone get the nut on

[stuartgallafant]

sounds like a good idea! we got a tool at work that you screw onto the end of the driveshaft, then place the hub over it, and then wind a nut onto it, so it pulls the hub into place, but it can be done the way i suggested.

you have to bear in mind, this is not an easy job. i never said it was. a few people have asked me how to do this now, so i thought i would share it with everyone. its upto whoever, if they want to take my advice or not!